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Single Farm Yarns

This is a list of Single Farm Yarns. These are British wool yarns produced by a farm using the wool from their own flock(s) of sheep.

In November 2015, Wovember had a special focus on Small Producers. This brought to my attention the interest knitters and other crafters using wool yarn have in yarns from named farms and identified flocks of sheep. So to help people find out about these yarns I've created this page just for Single Farm Yarns.

People interested in these yarns are often also interested to read about the sheep and other British fibre animals, where possible I've linked to the home page of farm websites as well as the shop page for yarn. Some farms don't have websites (some, even in 2016, do not have broadband!)so I've given other contact details for them.

I've also added location information to help those people looking for yarns from a particular area.

This list should be regarded as a source of information only and not recommendations by anyone involved with Woolsack.

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION HERE BEFORE USING ANY LISTINGS ON WOOLSACK

Remember that these yarns from single flocks may be listed as out of stock, depending on how quickly the yarn from the wool clipped each year sells out. It is always worth contacting the farm or stockist to see when the yarn will be back in stock.

For these yarns from smaller producers please be aware that the quality of yarn can vary considerably from year to year, and flock to flock, dependent on such factors as weather conditions affecting fleece growth.

Aalmerk Uradale Farm, East Voe. Scalloway. Shetland. The flock of pure native SHETLAND sheep spend most of the year grazing heather moorland hills and the banks down to the shoreline where they will also graze on seaweed. The organic 100% native Shetland wool clip has been scoured, spun and dyed organically. DK, Aran & Chunky yarns in natural undyed & dyed colours. Shop here

Croft 29 Location Isle of Skye. Beautiful HEBRIDEAN Yarn from our small flock of sheep on our croft on the world-famous Isle of Skye. Our sheep are hand-shorn in the summer, with the whole family getting involved in the process. Natural undyed very dark brown colour.

Dodgson Wood Location Ulverston, Cumbria. "We turn our fleece into knitting yarn. We have blends of CASTLEMILK MOORIT & CHEVIOT and BLACK WELSH MOUNTAIN & CHEVIOT and next week picking up a new blend of CASTLEMILK MOORIT and BLUEFACED LEICESTER. All from sheep from our farm." Page about the sheep. Contact them about the wool - link to shop will be added when available.

Doulton Flock Location North Yorkshire. BORDER LEICESTER yarn from the Doulton Flock in DK and 4ply in natural undyed cream, and dyed. Can be purchased using link here. Spun by Natural Fibre Company

Faithmead Felt, Fleece 'n' Fibre Location: border of Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire S.W. Wales. All pure bred Wensleydale, Teeswater, Leicester Longwool, Bluefaced Leicester, Coloured Bluefaced Leicester, Gotland, and Corriedale, . All in natural colours but just waiting to be dyed. Occasionally will add in other natural fibres such as Rose Fibre to give a different hue and texture. 2ply, 4ply, DK and Aran. Only between one and four fleeces ever in a single batch, so very Limited Edition and all include the Names of the Sheep who have provided their lush fleeces for your use. Spun by The Border Mill. Email or ring for availability

Fangdale Alpacas Location Fangdale Beck, Bilsdale, Helmsley in the North Yorkshire Moors. Natural undyed alpaca yarn in various weights from laceweight to DK from named alpacas. ALPACA. Shop here

Farnell Farm Location Rolvenden, Kent. Rare breed PORTLAND sheep. Worsted wool suitable for knitting or weaving. We sell this pure new worsted wool in 100g hanks. Worsted yarn consists of long fibres that lie parallel, so that the materials made from it are smooth, soft, lean and strong. Choose either hanks which knit as double knitting or hanks which knit as 4ply. Natural undyed creamy white. Buy here

Gam Rare Breeds FarmLocation Grassington, Yorkshire Dales National Park. The farm has a number of different rare breeds of sheep. Their knitting yarn, from their WHITE FACED WOODLAND, HEBRIDEAN & WENSLEYDALE sheep comes in thicknesses from heavy laceweight to chunky in natural colours (some with a little natural coloured alpaca blended) Shop here. Spun by The Halifax Spinning Mill

Heathylee House Farm Location Derbyshire/Staffordshire border in Peak District. GUANACO - We farm a small group of 50 animals in the more windswept moorlands of the Peak District. 100% British Guanaco fibre 2 Ply yarn. Shop here

Hooligan Yarns Location Nottinghamshire. We have mostly GOTLAND sheep, with some interesting crosses with TEESWATER and SHETLAND that make unusual, beautiful wool. Some new additions of rescued JACOBS and LLEYN crosses provide a traditional alternative to the Gotland blends. Batches are produced by individual sheep fleece with the name and details of each boy or girl provided as a story postcard with every order. Natural undyed. Buy here

Isle of Auskerry Location Auskerry, Orkney. All our products are made from our own flock of seaweed-eating, NORTH RONALDSAY sheep. Three natural undyed colours in 3 ply aran weight. Hand dyed yarn in hanks. Spun in a traditional mill in Lanarkshire, the yarn is entirely made in Scotland from our hand-clipped Fleece. Shop

Isle Yarns Location Dorset. The wool is from the POLL DORSET flock at Snelling Farm in Morton, Dorset. The yarn is available in DK 50g balls and 100g hanks, in both natural and the rich colours reflecting the stunning colours of autumn. Shop here

Kentwell Hall Farm Location Kentwell Hall, Long Melford, Suffolk. The farm has a flock of rare breed NORFOLK HORN sheep. The fleece is spun into natural un-dyed 4 ply and double knitting wool in 50g balls and 100g skeins. Some is also hand dyed. For information on how to buy, mail order, and links to the hand dyed yarns, please scroll to the bottom of this page Spun by Natural Fibre Company

Lancashire Farm Wool Location Flock conservation graze in Arnside and Silverdale AONB, Lancashire. The mixed flock of North Country Cheviots, Blue-faced Leicesters and Black Welsh Mountains enjoy not only the views out over Morcambe Bay, but also the wide variety of grasses and herbs found in this beautiful area. Chunky wool either natural cream or natural grey, aran wool in natural cream. On sale at local venues & farmers' markets or contact here for mail order.

Lerryn Farm Location East Sussex. HERDWICK/BADGER FACE Aran weight, Herdwick X - Aran & DK weights. Natural undyed colours. "Our first double knit and Aran wools will be available late 2015." Available at local Farmers' Markets or by mail order - details here Spun by Natural Fibre Company

Loch Morar Crafts Location Loch Morar Croft, Bracara, Loch Morar, West Highlands of Scotland. "We hand shear our flock each year and then send wool away to be carded, spun and made into 50g balls of double knitting wool. We currently have Hebridean Wool, a dark brown, and North Country Cheviot wool, a creamy white. HEBRIDEAN. NORTH COUNTRY CHEVIOT. Information about how to purchase here

May Hill Gotlands Location May Hill, near Newent, Gloucestershire. Flock of GOTLAND and Gotland cross Blue Faced Leicester sheep. Soft, lustrous wools in natural greys and hand dyed moorland colours. Sold at the farm, at local craft fairs or contact them for mail order.

Melanie McAteer Location Derbyshire. Mohair from the small flock of ANGORA goats. All of the mohair is 100% pure mohair. It is spun to 3 grades; pure kid mohair spun to double knitting ply, pure aran mohair, pure DK mohair. It is very very soft, and natural colour, cream.Contact 07941 071433 Spun by Natural Fibre Company.

Middle Campscott Farm Location Lee, Ilfracombe, N. Devon. The flocks include FRIESLAND, DORSET, SHETLAND, LLANWENOG and ZWARTBLES sheep. Their fleeces are spun into pure breed and blended knitting wools, using the natural colours of the fleeces to give a variety of colours. Weights 4ply, DK and aran. The wool can be purchased from Farmers' Markets in the area or see this page for more information about the yarns and how to buy by mail order.

Mudchute Location Mudchute Park and Farm is located in the middle of the Isle of Dogs, East London. Their flock includes OXFORD DOWN, WHITE FACED WOODLAND, JACOB & MANX LOAGHTAN. The fleeces are processed & spun to create DK & Aran weight yarns in natural white, natural grey and dyed colours. Shop here Spun by Natural Fibre Company

One Farm Yarn Fiddlers Green Farm near Harrogate. Full information in the linked blog post, but I'm hoping to get more details to add here.

Purl Alpaca Designs Location Cambridge (ALPACA herd is at Burwash Manor) Exquisitely soft yarn, made from English alpaca fibre, prepared in house and spun in the UK. Available in pure and natural colours, our yarn retains its unique lustre – beautiful to work with and luxurious to wear. Shop for yarn

Teeswater Wools from Higher Gills Farm Location Higher Gills Farm, Pendle Hill, Lancashire. All our products are traditionally crafted from the wool of our pedigree TEESWATER flock. Wide range of worsted spun yarns in 4-ply, DK & Aran weights. Natural undyed and random hand dyed. Hanks and cones for hand and machine knitting. To purchase, select the yarn you want from the index on the left hand side of this page

The Alpaca Barn Location Cranworth, Norfolk. This ALPACA herd was established in 1998. Alpaca yarns in natural undyed colours, 4-ply, DK & chunky Shop here (scroll down to see all the yarns on 3 pages) Spun by Natural Fibre Company

The Birlinn Yarn Company Location Sunhill 'Cnoc na Grèine' croft, Isle of Berneray, Outer Hebrides. The croft's pure HEBRIDEAN sheep produce fleece for the natural undyed brown DK & Aran yarn. Cheviot fleeces from other crofts on Isle of Berneray are blended with the Hebridean to give different shades of yarn. Shop here

The Living Rug Company Location Peak District. Several different breeds including GOTLAND. See photos here. "Our rare breed and English breed pet sheep live naturally and organically, on our own farm, and with the greatest care so I can harvest their wool to make wonderful, stylish rugs, yarn and accessories." Natural undyed yarn in chunky weight. Pure Gotland and blended breeds. Purchase hereSpun by Natural Fibre Company. Follow on twitter and facebook

Tufton Smallholding Location Whitchurch, Hants. The flock includes SHETLANDS, CORRIEDALES and HAMPSHIRE DOWN sheep. The wool is available in the natural colours of cream and pale brown and also a limited supply of coloured balls dyed with vegetable dyes. Buy from Farmers Markets local to Tufton, or shop here

Whistlebare Location North Northumberland. Mohair from our ANGORA Goats and wool from our WENSLEYDALE Sheep is spun in Yorkshire before being hand dyed, to an array of brilliant colours, back here on the farm. 4-ply, DK, Aran & Sock Yarn. Shop here. Spun by Laxtons, Yorkshire.